Helena Dalli
The politics of abortion
Earlier this month the group Gift of Life invited Rev. Denis Wilde from Priests for Life all the way from the United States to tell us, among other things, that abortion is bad.
I don't know whether any of the reporters who attended Rev. Wilde's news conference asked why he physically crossed the Atlantic to tell us what we already know. As far as I can gauge from the constant contact I have with my constituents and other people, I have never come across anyone suggesting the decriminalisation of abortion.
There is no question as to where the political class stands on abortion. It is a crime, and annexed to Malta's EU Accession Treaty is a protocol that ascertains that "Nothing in the Treaty on European Union, or in the Treaties establishing the European Communities, or in the Treaties or Acts modifying or supplementing those Treaties, shall affect the application in the territory of Malta of national legislation relating to abortion."
So why Gift of Life's obsession with pasting bits of the Criminal Code to our Constitution? It doesn't make sense and that's why there are people, including myself, who suspect that Gift of Life's pointless campaign is being stepped up because an election is close. They've been there before.
According to information on their website, Priests for Life encourage activists to inundate newspaper editors with letters "as a key way to prepare people for upcoming elections" (last year's US elections) and to start them with a "grabber", a "startling fact" such as "One of the top causes of death in America today is abortion."
The timing of Rev. Wilde's visit was perfect. When in election mode, every little bit of help from friends, in the hope that abortion will make it to the centre of the electoral debate, is welcome. This is an old trick; we saw it happening during the American (remember Sarah Palin?) and the Italian elections last year, with Silvio Berlusconi asking for "a United Nations moratorium on pregnancy terminations". In these two countries abortion is legal and so those against have something to fight for. In Malta it is illegal, so what is there to campaign for?
This is not to ignore the fact that governments have been burying their heads in the sand to the reality that Maltese girls and women avail themselves of abortion services overseas. I may not judge and will never imagine that I can understand their position because I have not been in it.
As Archbishop Rino Fisichela wrote recently in La Stampa on the case of the abortion of the twin foetuses of a nine-year-old child who had been allegedly raped by her stepfather: "How should one act in these cases? An arduous decision for the doctor and for moral law itself." He urged for respect for the girl and for the excommunicated doctors who performed the abortion, addressing her directly: "There are others who merit excommunication and our pardon, not those who have allowed you to live and have helped you to regain hope and trust."
I have given birth twice and never had an abortion, so maybe I am slightly better placed to speak on the issue than the men doing the chasing around, petition in hand. I will not heed any man from Gift of Life or any American priest patronising me on abortion or presenting me with a plastic foetus on my way to work. I did not accept it and told the man offering the piece of plastic that, unlike him, I know what a real foetus feels like, so I don't need a plastic one. Can you imagine a scene more absurd than a man handing a woman a plastic foetus?
What is most despicable then, in this Gift of Life tragicomedy, is that if one disagrees with their constitutional entrenchment fixation, then one must favour abortion. Give us a break!
Another thing I cannot understand about Gift of Life is that they quote the case of Ireland as having the prohibition of abortion article (40.3.3) in the Constitution (added in 1983) without realising that we have the advantage of learning from hindsight. Ireland had to amend article 40.3.3 in 1992 after the case of the 14-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated by her neighbour. Kept under house arrest to ensure she did not go for an abortion abroad, she aborted naturally because of the trauma she underwent.
The two amendments included that the prohibition on abortion would not limit the freedom of pregnant women to travel out of the country and that it would not limit the right to distribute information about abortion services in foreign countries. There is today in Ireland a rather strong call for the repeal of the abortion article from the Constitution altogether; what Gift of Life here want to cut and paste to our Constitution, 26 years on.
This does not make sense. That is why I suspect it's the perennial election-time ploy in the hope that someone will take the bait.
The author is a sociologist and a Labour member of Parliament.
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Joe Zammit
Apr 23rd 2009, 12:08
Whoever is against abortion rejoices when someone, be it a priest or a layman, be it Maltese or foreigner, speaks on the cruelty and wickedness of abortion and the beauty of life from conception to natural death. The fact that this priest comes from America where abortion is legal MEANS HE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ANYONE OF US on the evil of abortion. Besides, those who are already converted NEED CONFIRMATION from time to time of their conversion.
Whoever is against abortion MUST PROVE IT not only by word of mouth but also by facts. Is Helena ready to vote in favour of an entrenched clause in the Constitution against abortion? Why is so depressed by Gift of Life? She has given no valid reason for her depression. Gift of Life has spoken in the wake of facts. Is Helena living in the clouds? Has she not read what was written in favour of abortion?
I would like to add as well that God reads the hearts of all people and knows who is really in favour of life from conception to natural death and who is in favour of abortion. That is enough for us!
John Samut-Tagliaferro
Apr 22nd 2009, 22:29
@J.Attard. You yourself quote a survey showing that 3% of the Maltese are NOT against abortion. That makes many thousands. It is surprising that Mrs Dalli, who represents ALL of her constituents, has never come across even one of them. I can assure you that I have come across quite a few of them, and that I know perfectly well what I am talking about.
R. Garzia
Apr 22nd 2009, 14:03
Dr Dalli's article is not bitter at all. It paints a perfect picture of the contradictory situation where a priest coming from a country where abortion is legal comes to give lectures against abortion in a country where abortion is illegal.
It doesn"t seem that Dr Dalli rushed to "attack GOL", on the contrary I got the impression that she has been very patient with them. It seems that now she's had enough and that is understandable from someone known to suffer fools badly. Well done Dr Dalli.
And another thing, what difference does it make whether fr Wilde was invited or not? He would have done more good had he stayed in his country to fight abortion than to come on a holiday here to preach to the converted.
Joe Zammit
Apr 22nd 2009, 13:58
Notwithstanding that 97% in Malta and Gozo are against abortion and so, are IN FAVOUR OF LIFE, we must appreciate and HELP all those who work in favour life. We must never look upon these social workers in a bad light!
The Catholic Church knows that the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are against abortion. Notwithstanding this, she will continue to enlighten us on the wickedness and cruelty of abortion in view of defending life from conception to natural death.
Those who are sincere in their struggle against abortion encourage GIFT OF LIFE in their social mission for the benefit of all. Sincerity urges us to speak in favour of life and in favour of those who defend life!
J. Attard
Apr 21st 2009, 23:14
@ Mr Sammut Tagliaferro
Dr Dalli knows what she is talking about. In fact a recent survey shows that 97% of the Maltese are against abortion. So it's not Dr Dalli living a shelterd life, but you speaking without knowing what you are talking about
Gerry Cowie
Apr 21st 2009, 20:32
What a bitter article from Helena Dalli!
I am sure that Gift of Life expects such venomous responses to its attempts to put the importance of human life at the top of the political agenda.
I read in the Times of Tuesday 21st April 2009 that Ms Dalli appears to have got her facts wrong in her rush to attack GOL.
There is nothing pointless in the defence of human life.
And what organisation would not become vociferous when an election is in the offing?
Many people who call themselves "pro choice" are alarmed when people seek to educate the public about this subject. Hence the criticism of the use of models etc to demonstrate what some would rather the public would not hear.
But people need to know the truth and if that means showing these things clearly then they should be shown. People can make their minds up having been fully informed!
Surely any organisation standing up for human life should be applauded rather than attacked in this way, just because the writer does not agree with their methods.
Joe Zammit
Apr 20th 2009, 17:28
I am not against peace but against peacemakers. Let those who have enough salt understand!
Joe Zammit
Apr 20th 2009, 17:00
Gift of Life, continue in your mission in favour of life and against abortion! THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOUR OF LIFE AND AGAINST ABORTION SPEAK IN FAVOUR OF YOUR MISSION! The devil is subtle in his wickedness and can take up the face of a lamb when in reality he is a wolf. Favouring life as God wants us to do and denouncing abortion is NEVER enough. We need to hear and hear and hear, and meditate on what we hear. The Catholic Church has always spoken in favour of life and against all evils, including abortion. And she will continue till the end of time. In other words the Church preaches and teaches and explains the Fifth Commandment. Those who are really against abortion do their best to include its prohibition as an entrenched clause in our Constitution.
Anthony Mercieca
Apr 20th 2009, 15:29
@ Sandra Vella & @ N Zammit Alamgo. If as stated the issue is not a question of supporting abortion, at least no body should feel hurt for the stand taken by the gof (independent if you share or not their approach on the abortion issue). The fact that by gof "politics" you get a prominent MP expressing uneasiness to such and of the way the gof functions, and there does not seem to be explicit commitment in defending the real weak as an unborn child - and to add a part of my thought that should just come by just attacking abortion but also poverty and lack of education....in the value and right of life....than I cannot understand why the Hon Dalli's contribution had taken the approach of castising the gof movement approach. The denial of the right of life to an unborn for whatever reason can gradually lead to other denials of rights in a world that claims that claims that human rights are there to stay but often promoting a culture of death
John Samut-Tagliaferro
Apr 20th 2009, 14:50
Paul Vincenti of Gift of Life has denied that his organisation invited Fr. Wilde to Malta. Mrs. Dalli must live a sheltered life and have a very select group of contacts: "I have never come across anyone suggesting the decriminalisation of abortion" she says. I suggest she widens her horizons a little. I can assure Mrs. Dalli that there are plenty of people out here who do advocate the decriminalisation of abortion.
J.A. Agius
Apr 20th 2009, 12:51
Mr Mercieca conveniently ignores all the arguments so well put forward by Ms Dalli and focuses on one: how correct GoL is to raise its head prior to elections. I suppose that this alone would make us worthy of forgiveness for suspecting that Mr Mercieca's only purpose in posting this comment is purely poltical. Such attitudes might even drive some of us to harbour the unchristian wish that people like Mr Mercieca had daughters who insist on having an abortion.
Joe Zammit
Apr 20th 2009, 11:23
Abortion is ALWAYS EVIL, also in the case of rape. Killing the innocent person is always condemned by God as evil, under all circumstances. We must follow the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church and not what some particular person might say, whoever that person might be. Evil is always evil under all circumstances. Compassion is blessed by God but it has to be in accordance with his divine law. Compassion that goes against God's law is deceit, it is a devilish compassion that harms deeply. There is no genuine love that excludes God's love. MPs, follow the teaching of the Catholic Church and you will find a sound and sure way on how to legislate for the benefit of all Maltese and Gozitans, who are in their great majority Catholics and want legislations only according to the teaching of the Catholic Church. Such legislations will benefit one and all because they will be according to God's loving will for us.
N Zammit Alamango
Apr 20th 2009, 10:56
@ A Mercieca
Your post is out of context. Dr Helena Dalli is voicing a very important reality, that a lot of women face. Just because they are anti propaganda that the Gift of Life are presenting does not mean that they are pro abortion.
Dr Dalli, in her article, is not debating whether Malta should be in favour of abortion or against, but on the gimmicks the Gift of Life use to evoke and depict their message. The more farce they decide to present the more people will pay less attention, and their message would not be effective anymore.
Sandra Vella
Apr 20th 2009, 10:20
@ A. Mercieca
I don't see where the non-sequitur is. Dr Dalli was very clear and she has cited the strategy of Priests for Life, the guests of Gift of Life, who declare that they step up their campaigns when elections are close.
Both political parties have been very responsible on this issue otherwise we wouldn't have the safeguards (in relation to the EU) which Dr Dalli quotes chapter and verse.
We don't have to go through the Ireland experience to learn from it.
Thank you for the honest well-researched account. Thank you for voicing the opinion of many women who are against abortion but who find the patronising attitude of Gift of Life appalling.
Anthony Mercieca
Apr 20th 2009, 09:32
The deductions made by the Hon.Helena Dalli that the pressures are an electoral gimmick by the movement "Gift of Life", are a "non-sequitur". There are people especially in the present list of MEP contenders that contain and seem to promote a frame of reason that throw the weight of the right for life in favour of the carrier of the foetus, as if these don't acknowledge the reality of another life that is being gestated within them. Regrettably such reasoning, which is not futile in humanistic perspective, keeps punishing the weak and the indefencable unborn but living child, in face of risks that at times are only excuses in accomodating the relief from an uncomfortable irresponsible actions by us humans. In view of such the gof are right to promote the issue at this particular time and people should realize the responsibility of who should be their representative. Political parties too should shoulder the responsibilities who they choose as their candidates.